'Celebrity Apprentice' names its final two

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Lil Jon and Meat Loaf have become the latest stars to be fired from Celebrity Apprentice, meaning that Marlee Matlin and John Rich will fight for the title next week.

The actress will battle for her charity Starkey Hearing Foundation on next Sunday's live final, while country star John Rich will represent St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

This week's episode opened with a surprise visit by Mr Trump to the candidate's headquarters after the previous boardroom, where he tells them they will be interviewed by former Celebrity Apprentice winners Bret Michaels, Joan Rivers and Piers Morgan, and drops the bombshell that another double firing is looming.

Bret, Joan and Piers interview each of the finalists together before reporting back to Mr Trump what they consider to be the strengths and weaknesses of each. "Honestly, they are all impressive," says Mr Trump. "It's going to be a tough choice." However, Piers, Joan and Bret all agree on who the final two candidates should be.

The Boardroom

Mr Trump quizzes everyone on who should make the finale. John Rich picks himself and Marlee; Lil John chooses himself and John Rich; Marlee names herself and John Rich; while Lil Jon chooses himself and John Rich.

The business mogul then tells the candidates about past contestant Lennox Lewis who didn't pick himself when asked who should make the finale, and because Lil Jon made a similar remark during his interview, his time on the show is over. "Thank you, sir," says Lil Jon. "Thanks for the opportunity." The rapper hugs everybody before leaving, while Mr Trump calls after him: "Great going, man. He's a great guy."

"To be on the show is amazing and to make it this far even more amazing so I'm just happy, happy, happy and that I could bring awareness to my charity and bring them that money as well," says Lil Jon. "I don't have any regrets."

Back in the boardroom, his teammate John Rich praises him for breaking down stereotypes and doing a good job on the show, but it's soon back to business as Mr Trump says another firing is coming. He asks everyone why they should be the next apprentice.

John Rich says that his only goal was to "raise as much money as humanly possible" for his charity and take everything he has built with his life and career to help the hospital. Marlee says that "enough is never enough" for her charity because millions of people need help, while Meat Loaf also says his charity Painted Turtle is the reason to choose him.

Unfortunately for Meat Loaf, Mr Trump says that while the advisors thought he was "absolutely exceptional", they were concerned that he was too emotional. Mr Trump says that he thinks emotion is sometimes good and sometimes bad, and in the business world there can be "too much emotion." Meat Loaf is fired.

"I am emotional but this is an emotional game," he says. "If you don't come with emotion you won't get to where I was. My experience on The Celebrity Apprentice was amazing. I won over $200,000 for my charity and it's beyond unbelievable."

The Final Task

The final task involves launching 7UP Retro. Marlee and John have to design the packaging and an outdoor display, write and produce a commercial, and launch the product at a star-studded event. Marlee chooses the 1970s theme, meaning she will work with the Harlem Globetrotters, while John gets the 1980s theme with Def Leppard as helpers. Each candidate also gets $50,000 from 7UP for their charity.

They will be assisted by former Apprentice candidates from the season. John Rich has: Lil Jon, Mark McGrath and Star Jones. Marlee has: Meat Loaf, Richard Hatch and La Toya.

John's team choose a concept which involves zebra print cans and 1980s-styled characters auditioning for their advert. They enlist Dee Snider from Twisted Sister for the commercial, with the idea that he also auditions and is terrible until he takes a swig of 7UP Retro and is transformed. Unfortunately, the Def Leppard tour manager doesn't want the drummer to play kick drum at the launch party, which John Rich isn't happy about.

Over on Marlee's team, they choose a disco ball theme for their can and iconic 1970s characters for their commercial. The team members all don 1970s gear - including Meat Loaf, who dresses as his younger self. They also secure the services of Geoffrey Holder, the original voice of 7UP, until his lawyer calls to say that while he wants to do it, he can't participate because of an issue with the release... Marlee wonders if it's time for a new plan: "I knew without him everything was going to fall apart."

Tune into Celebrity Apprentice next Sunday at 9/8c on NBC to find out what happens next and who wins the competition